East Trade Winds

GROWTH PILLAR: Marketing & Branding WHO THIS IS FOR: SMB owners / Solopreneurs / Corporate escapees / Leaders building systems WHAT THEY'LL GAIN: Actionable PR strategies, a low-cost tactic to boost AI search citations, and a clear framework for getting earned media coverage that builds real credibility.   Most small businesses never get media coverage. Not because they aren't interesting. Because...

GROWTH PILLAR: Marketing & Branding WHO THIS IS FOR: SMB owners / Solopreneurs / Corporate escapees / Leaders building systems WHAT THEY'LL GAIN: A clear framework for connecting brand, digital tools, and business outcomes — plus three practical leverage points to create real momentum this week. Most digital marketing plans fail before they launch. Not because the tools are wrong. Because the thin...

GROWTH PILLAR: Marketing & Branding WHO THIS IS FOR: SMB owners / Solopreneurs / Corporate escapees / Leaders building systems WHAT THEY'LL GAIN: Actionable publishing steps, hard-won lessons from a 6-year book coaching career, and real strategies to attract clients before your book is even done. Most people don't know they're about to make a very expensive mistake with their book. Ben Gioia is th...

BUSINESS GROWTH PILLAR: AI & Automation WHO THIS PODCAST IS FOR Startup founders, solopreneurs, small business owners, coaches, consultants, and scaling SMB leaders. WHAT THEY’LL GAIN Actionable AI automation strategies, smarter research workflows, productivity shortcuts, and real-world business growth systems. The Problem Percy Solves:   Percy Barr helps small business owners stop wasting time on...

Have you ever gone on a road trip without checking the map? In this episode of the East Trade Winds Podcast (S3 E023) , host Bernie Franzgrote sits down with Walid Doumyati of Your Precision Growth Partners to explain why many businesses try to grow without a financial roadmap. Walid shares a simple story. Imagine you are driving from Washington, D.C. to Miami. Your goal is to reach $50 million in...

Most businesses think helping the planet costs money, and Shel shows how ethical marketing can grow profit while doing real good. Shel Horowitz talks about a bold idea: treat the Earth like your best client. He says businesses do better when they care about people and the planet. In this episode, Shel shares stories that prove green choices are not a burden—they are business fuel. He explains how...

Picture this: you're running a business, and suddenly, payments slow down, costs go up, and suppliers stop picking up the phone. What do you do next? That’s the exact question financial expert Eric Sonego from CAPROS helps answer in this episode. Host Bernie Franzgrote of Knack 4 Business sits down with Eric to talk through the most pressing challenge today’s entrepreneurs face: uncertainty . Usin...

What happens when you get laid off with no backup plan—just a wild idea and a pun? For Colin McIntosh, it meant building Sheets & Giggles , a sustainable bedding company with humor and heart. Three weeks after losing his job, Colin founded a company that would disrupt a stagnant, plastic-filled industry—and eventually land him on Good Morning America . In this episode, Colin takes us behind the sc...

Most salespeople pitch too hard or drop prices. This episode teaches how to sell confidently—by assuming the sale and asking the right questions.   What if your next big sale didn't come from pitching harder… but from showing up like a hero ? In this episode of East Trade Winds, we sit down with Paul Kirch , founder of Sellience and BOSS Academy , to explore "assumptive selling" —a mindset shift t...

Many businesses earn strong revenue but unknowingly leave profit trapped inside their operations. Where is your profit hiding? Most business owners push hard to grow revenue—but many still feel stuck in a cash crunch. In this eye-opening episode, Karena Bell , founder of ProfitLinz , shares a powerful message: profit isn’t missing—it’s just hidden. Drawing from her experience as a forensic profit...

Traditional podcasts are time-consuming and slow to show results. Megan Dougherty shares how micro-pods flip that script by offering a faster, smarter path to podcast success.   In this value-packed episode of East Trade Winds Tuesday , we welcomed the ever-insightful Megan Dougherty , co-founder of One Stone Creative and author of Podcasting for Business . Megan introduces a compelling new approa...

Tenders and RFPs are full of opportunity—but they’re also full of paperwork, confusing rules, and missed chances. In this inspiring and practical episode of East Trade Winds, we sit down with Jim Overboom , a young Dutch entrepreneur and co-founder of TenderSeal , to uncover how AI is transforming the tendering process —and how small businesses can finally compete with the big players. 🎓 Jim, who...

Busy doesn’t equal productive—lack of clarity is the real culprit. Episode Summary: What if your business ran with the ease of rowers in perfect sync—no friction, no burnout, just smooth forward motion? In this episode of East Trade Winds, hosts Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt sit down with Frances Strickland , founder of VeroLead , to uncover the 3 essential keys that bring clarity, performance...

The problem solved: Many professionals use LinkedIn, but very few make it work for them. In this episode of the Knack 4 Business podcast (also appearing on the East Trade Winds series), hosts Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt sit down with LinkedIn expert Tony K Silver (from  tonyksilver.com and  thesilvervoice.co.uk ) to hear the story of how one simple but often‑ignored change helped Tony turn h...

In a fast-changing digital world, many teams are disconnected, under pressure, and missing out on the real potential of AI to support—not replace—human impact. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: What the Talent Box really is—and why it works Four color personality types and how they affect your team Why intention and mindfulness change outcomes How AI can enhance (not replace) recruitment and team building Tr...

Most businesses have a Google Business Profile… but few actually use it to its full potential. When was the last time you updated your Google Business Profile? If you're like many business owners, it might have been… never. In this energizing episode of East Trade Winds , hosts Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt sit down with marketing powerhouse Catherine (Cat) Herd of Purple Panda Creative Market...

Fraud is now the most common crime in the UK—Jason helps people and businesses spot scams before they lose money.   📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION Jason Costain, a fraud expert from Javloc , has seen it all. Fake websites. Social engineering. Text messages that fool even cautious parents. In this must-hear episode of East Trade Winds , hosted by Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt , Jason walks us through s...

Most startups fail not because of the idea—but because of three big, avoidable mistakes in validation, pitch communication, and legal structure. In this high-impact episode of East Trade Winds , hosted by Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt , we welcome Anthony Rose , founder of SeedLegals and a legal tech trailblazer helping startups raise smarter. Known as the “man who saved the BBC” and a serial...

Many experts and entrepreneurs struggle to stand out as podcast guests—Noémi Beres shows you how to fix that.   It’s one thing to get on a podcast… it’s another to make it count. When Noémi Beres co-founded Podcast Connections , she noticed how many guests missed key opportunities—by failing to prepare, promote, or connect. In this energizing episode of East Trade Winds—hosted by Bernie Franzgrote...

In this episode of East Trade Winds , we take a step back from business tactics to focus on something even more powerful: your personal mission statement . Wayne Pratt, founder of Motive8U and seasoned business coach, shows us how to create a purpose statement in under 15 minutes that can re-align your personal and professional life. Hosted by Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne himself, this engaging ses...

Most salespeople talk too much and listen too little. Paul shows how mastering the right questions can change every sales conversation. In this East Trade Winds session, hosted by Bernie Franzgrote and Wayne Pratt , we meet Paul Kirch , founder of Boss Academy . Paul built his sales career the hard way—trial, error, and rejection. Along the way, he discovered that questions , not polished pitches,...

Teams often struggle because we don’t understand why people think the way they do — leading to miscommunication, low performance, and frustration. In this episode of East Trade Winds, we host Adam Kirkaldy of MindTime (LinkedIn: Adam Kirkaldy , websites: adamkirkaldy.com and mindtimedynamics.com). He shares a powerful framework called the MindTime model that explains individual motivations through...

Do you really know where your receipts are — and what they could be worth in a tax audit? In this eye-opening episode of East Trade Winds , we sit down with Eric Sonego , Partner at CAPROS and seasoned business advisor, who breaks down why good record keeping isn't just for tax time — it's for business survival . For years, Eric relied on mind mapping to solve work problems. At first, people thoug...

Many people fear selling—afraid of rejection or seeming arrogant—so they miss out on real business growth. Imagine you're about to talk to a potential client, but there's a voice inside saying, "What if they say no? What if I sound pushy?" That’s where our guest, Percy Barr of Percy Barr Consultancy , comes in. He helps you change that story. In this episode of East Trade Winds , Percy joins us to...

The Problem This Solves : Many business owners overlook the goldmine hidden in their own client lists—missing out on referrals and repeat business.   When it comes to business growth, some of the most overlooked assets are right under your nose. In this episode of East Trade Winds , we’re joined by Percy Barr , founder of Percy Barr Consultancy , who shares why your client list isn’t just data—it’...